FRE 1133

IMAGE

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A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New York; First Lieutenant Varney D. Cline, Pilot from Pineville, West Virginia; William M. Beach, Engineer, from Lordsburg, New Mexico; Staff Sergeant Peter Mastalarz Radio operator from Rockford, Illinois. Official caption printed on image: '(GPR-113-7-305) [obscured by censor] (29-7-43)(Crew in front of 156).' Image stamped on reverse: 'Keystone Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 25 Aug 1943.' [stamp] and '280524.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse has been damaged, what remains reads: 'FLYING FORTRESS ON HER BELLY. On the return from a recent raid over Europe the crew of the Fortress "LALLAH-V" piloted by 1st Lt. Varnet Cline, of Pineville, West Virginia covered the last 500 yards of the trip on the under carriage. As the Fort circled the field, it appeared to be in good condition. It was not until the ship had been set down on the runway in a perfect landing that anyone had the idea that there was trouble in the wind. As the plane rolled to the end of the runway and had come to an almost complete stop, the landing gear collasped and the plane came to a stop resting on the body of the Fortress. Keystone photo shows:- L to R: 1st. Lt. Karl H Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; 2nd Lt Magnus G.Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, N. Dakota; 1st Lt. Robert D Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, Cal.; St.Sgt. John F. Hill, Asst [radio] operator, from Valhalla, New York, [1st Lt Varney D.] Cline, Pilot from Pineville, West VA....William M. Beach, Engineer, from Lordsburg, New Mexico and S/Sgt. Peter Mastalarz Radio [operator] from Rockford, Illinois ... Keystone.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Believed WFR 25156.'

Connections

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Units

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728817
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-662747
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
A bomber crew of the 305th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" that belly landed on the runway. From left to right they are: First Lieutenant Karl H. Brauer, Navigator, from Indianapolis; Major J. Lawrence Smith co-pilot, from Carpinteria, California; Second Lieutenant Magnus G. Bolken, Operations Officer, from Arnegard, North Dakota; First Lieutenant Robert D. Metcalf, Bombardier, from Sacramento, California; Staff Sergeant John F. Hill, Asst radio operator, from Valhalla, New
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group

Aircraft

Two crewmembers of a 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Lallah-V" climb out of the top escape hatch after the aircraft's landing gear unexpectedly collapsed at the end of the runway as the aircraft returned from a raid on the 29th of July 1943. caption on image: "(GPR-113-3-305)(29-7-43)(The Hard Way)." Passed as censored 25 Aug 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Flying Fortress Lands On Her Belly. On the return from a recent raid over Europe, the crew of the Fortress "Lallah-V" piloted by 1
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Lallah V
  • Unit: VIII Air Force Service Command 305th Bomb Group Base Air Depot 2 364th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorLucy May
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

Added connection to aircraft

Date:
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations
Sources

Roger Freeman Photo

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection